poet - Maggie Francis lane

"In 2017, Dawn started writing poems. Maggie Francis Lane is the name she adopted for fun, as a pen name.

Maggie and Francis are the names of two of her aunts, from her mother's side. Aunt Maggie, now deceased, and her Aunt Fran, whom, as of 2018, is still living in Logan, West Virginia. "Lane" comes from her dad's side."

Aunt Maggie

Aunt Maggie, born in the 1920's, was a quiet, courageous, and independent woman. She never married and lived in Los Angeles for several years before moving back to WV, where she was born.

What do you hear? The howling of darkness and dread The song of your dreams The drumming of your toil and strain The anthem of your faith?

The world is a cacophony of sounds From which those sagaciously attuned, emerge joyful and victorious All others, whose ears are dull and simple, hear noise that weakens the body, wounds the spirit, and clouds the mind

Listen to the voice of virtue And the wind of opportunity, while it is passing, for it is passing. Let it carry you into fleeting moments of greatness.

By will, the ears of your spirit hear, so listen with much discretion to lovely words of honor and praise.

Despair, that dreadful orator, whose tongue is a deadly arrow; ignore his clamorous chatter and thunderous speech, for he will slowly destroy and bring you to ruin.

Listen to the chorus of the hills and the earth; to the silent majesty of the rising sun; to the roaring ocean and the babbling brook; to the warmth of a dog’s love, and the comfort of your own bed.